Acute Appendicitis in Children in the Era of Covid-19.

Muhamed Jassim Fadhle, Ali Farooq Al-Mayoof
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Abstract

Background: Abdominal pain is a common complaint encountered by paediatric surgeons. This complaint could be related to surgical or non-surgical causes. With coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the incidence of abdominal pain has increased and mimicked acute appendicitis in paediatric patients.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric acute appendicitis in terms of demographic data (age and sex), and operative findings, specifically, the complicated appendicitis and negative appendectomy rates.

Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the records of children aged 5-15 years, who were diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery between January 2018 and December 2021. The patients were divided into pre-pandemic and pandemic groups. Demographic, operative and histopathological findings were compared between the two groups.

Results: A significant increase in the incidence of acute abdominal pain amongst the admitted children (39.8% vs. 32.7%, P < 0.0001) and a significant decrease in the incidence of acute appendicitis (27% vs. 33%, P < 0.013) were observed in the pandemic group. An associated non-significant increase in the rates of complicated appendicitis (30% vs. 26%, P = 0.299) and negative appendectomy (5.8% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.359) was noted. During the pandemic period, no statistically significant differences were found between polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive and PCR-negative patients in complicated appendicitis or negative appendectomy rates (30% vs. 29.7%, P = 0.841, and 6.7% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.424, respectively).

Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with an increased incidence of acute abdominal pain in children but a decreased rate of acute appendicitis. The latter tends to present at a younger age than usual. The rates of complicated appendicitis and negative appendectomy increased but were not significantly affected by the pandemic or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection status.

Covid-19 时代的儿童急性阑尾炎。
背景:腹痛是儿科外科医生经常遇到的主诉。这种主诉可能与手术或非手术原因有关。随着 2019 年冠状病毒病(COVID-19)的出现,腹痛的发病率有所增加,并在儿科患者中模拟急性阑尾炎:本研究旨在评估 COVID-19 大流行对儿科急性阑尾炎的影响,包括人口统计学数据(年龄和性别)和手术结果,特别是复杂性阑尾炎和阑尾切除术阴性率:这项回顾性队列研究回顾了 2018 年 1 月至 2021 年 12 月期间确诊为急性阑尾炎并接受手术治疗的 5-15 岁儿童的病历。患者分为大流行前组和大流行组。对两组患者的人口统计学、手术和组织病理学结果进行了比较:结果:在大流行组中,入院儿童中急性腹痛的发生率明显增加(39.8% 对 32.7%,P < 0.0001),急性阑尾炎的发生率明显下降(27% 对 33%,P < 0.013)。复杂性阑尾炎(30% 对 26%,P = 0.299)和阴性阑尾切除术(5.8% 对 3.8%,P = 0.359)的发病率相应增加,但无显著性差异。在大流行期间,聚合酶链式反应(PCR)阳性和PCR阴性患者在复杂性阑尾炎或阴性阑尾切除率方面没有发现明显的统计学差异(分别为30% vs. 29.7%,P = 0.841和6.7% vs. 4.2%,P = 0.424):结论:COVID-19 与儿童急性腹痛发病率升高有关,但与急性阑尾炎发病率降低有关。结论:COVID-19 与儿童急性腹痛发病率升高有关,但与急性阑尾炎发病率降低有关。复杂性阑尾炎的发病率和阑尾切除术的阴性率有所上升,但并未受到大流行或严重急性呼吸系统综合征冠状病毒 2 感染状况的显著影响。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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